Conception Bay North CeeBee Stars general manager Kenny Hunt will not be with the team following the Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador Annual General Meeting in June.
Hunt informed the club of the decision prior to beginning of the 2011-12 season.
"I committed for this year, but this would be the last one," he said.
Hunt said he told the team he would help them get off the ground in the new Newfoundland Senior Hockey League.
Hunt has been a integral cog in the CeeBees' machine for the past two years, helping guide the team to a Herder final appearance last season and getting the team into the provincial league this season.
Hunt started with the organization as a volunteer,performing various duties for the organization, but this year he took on a larger task load, adding the title of general manager to his name.
"I'm going to miss it when they start up again next year," he said.
One thing he is relieved to be rid of is the added stress that comes with the job.
"It's a huge commitment," said Hunt.
He said he will take comfort in being able to go to the games at 7:15 p.m. rather than a couple of hours before game time.
Hunt will get to watch the game without the added pressure of being invested in the outcome.
"I'm going to be their No.1 fan," he said.
CeeBees' assistant coach Peter George said Hunt had carried a lot of work for the organization and would be missed.
"We need 10 Kenny Hunts," George said of the work Hunt did.
It is still not sure who will be filling Hunt's spot as the team's general manager.
"We need to come up with five people to do Kenny's job," said George.
CeeBees' head coach Corey Crocker said he hopes Hunt will reconsider his decision to step away from the organization.
"Kenny's done a fantastic job and we worked really well together," he said. "It's such a hard job to have."
Hunt will not be vacating his post until after the general meetings in June and he still has to deal with the CeeBees' year-end as well.
Looking for people
After he moves on from the CeeBees, Hunt said he would like to see a "volunteer base come forward."
"I'd like to see more people getting involved," he said.
George, looking at the support groups other teams like Clarenville and Grand Falls-Windsor have, said the CeeBees need to have more volunteers in their ranks.
"We've come to realize it is a 365-day preparation for the next season when it comes to raising money and getting ready for the season," he said. "I now realize that we certainly need more help.
"I'm not saying people aren't willing to help us, I'm just saying we were unaware of exactly how much help we needed."
The CeeBees have a good number of volunteers, but nothing on the level that Clarenville and Grand Falls-Windsor have at the team's disposal.
George said preparations for next year have to start immediately.
"It's getting the right people in place and the right amount of people in place in order to move forward is key," he said.
A long(er) summer
Hunt will be stepping away just as the CeeBees are starting the longest off-season in seven years. They're used to preparing for the Herder final, but that opportunity was lost after being eliminated from the Newfoundland Senior Hockey League by the Clarenville Caribous in five games, 4-1.
The CeeBees dropped Game 5 6-3 to give the Caribous the series victory March 16 at the Clarenville Event Centre.
Sean Wadden and Kyle Doucet (2) provided the offence for Harbour Grace, while Andrew Sweetland (2), Ryan Desrosiers (2) and Matt Bragg (2) had goals for Clarenville.
The elimination marks the first time in eight years that the CeeBees will not be playing for the Herder Memorial Trophy and the right to call themselves provincial champions.
"It's certainly something different," said Hunt. "We're not used to not preparing for the Herder."
"It's like a lull has come over us," he said.
CeeBees' veteran forward Keith Delaney said having the extra time and not preparing for the Herder final is "quite different."
"It is frustrating when you're training all off-season and the team and the organization is putting all of its resources into one goal and that's making the Herder," he said. "So, when you come up short, it's always time to reflect on the season."
With that reflection comes evaluation of how players did on a personal level and how the team performed.
"I guess, by not making it to the Herder, we obviously fell short of our goal," said Delaney.
George, speaking from his office in St. John's, said the realization of not participating in the Herder final came to a head early last week.
"It hit me that we're not preparing for practice, I don't have to see if guys need sticks or what's the latest on flights for (Corey) Crocker and (Colin) Archer," he said.
nmercer@cbncompass.ca
